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The Tiny House

In what seems to some to be a very un-American like shift in attitude, tiny homes are making a splash amid the still-dismal real estate market. I say un-American in the sense that bigger, super-sized, extra-large, value-sized, or any one of the countless euphemism’s for “mine is bigger than yours” seems to have become the standard in American purchasing habits. But with the downturn in the economy, downsizing is becoming the word of the day and these tiny homes are answering the call in some areas.

Just ask Jay Shafer, co-founder of the Small House Society (yes, it’s a real society), who lived in an 89 square foot home, that he built himself, until the birth of his son last year. What can you fit in 89 square feet? His tiny home has a kitchen with gas stove and sink, bathroom with a shower, a bedroom loft and a “great room” that can accommodate a couple of guests and a two-seater porch.

Shafer is also author of “The Small House Book” and co-owner of the Tumbleweed TIny House Company, which designs and builds miniature homes. These tiny spaces come with a range of different amenities and are sold ready-made for between $40,000 and $50,000, but can be had even cheaper if the buyer is willing to build it themselves.

So, could the tiny house movement be for you? The online community has around 1,800 subscribers, most of whom live in their little houses full-time. Some other uses for small houses include office space, accommodations for an aging parent or adult child who may need to return home and an alternative to building a home addition. It can even be resold when no longer needed.

For more information on the trend of the tiny house, check out this article.

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